End Of Season update

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The Bowls Club is nearing the end of the competitive League season with just a few matches left. The good news is that our Ladies in the New Forest League, are at the top of their division, so we are hoping for some success from our lovely lady bowlers. We are also in the Final of the Mixed Triples League Cup. Paul Tanner just missed out on progressing to the last 16 of the County singles championship, losing 20-21. Marie Clarke reached the semis of the New Forest Champion of Champions.

Everyone is talking about the weather, and it is no different at the Bowling Club. As you can imagine, the hot, dry weather has meant we have had to cancel matches – and it affects the condition of the Green, but we are doing our best to keep it a nice surface to play on. The Green Team have just purchased a new mower which will improve the playing surface for years to come. The Club would like to extend gratitude to Downton Parish Council and the Wiltshire County Area Board for their support in this purchase.

Club Results

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In the New Forest League, Downton Men beat New Milton 73-58 taking 7 points to 1. The Ladies won their game 6-2 against Milford.

In the Mixed Triples League Downton beat Wilton 63-28 on shots and 6-2 on points. This leaves them in 3rd position in the League.

On Saturday in the Bournemouth League Downton Bustards beat Fordingbridge 43 shots to 21 and 6-2 on points leaving them in 2nd position in the league.

Results Update

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In the local Leagues Downton lost to Wilton, who are now top of the Salisbury and District League.

In the Mixed Triple League Salisbury are top of the table.

Most local Clubs will be organising the Bowls England Big Bowls weekend at the end of May. Downton held their Open days on Friday evening 26th and on Sunday 28th from 2pm to 5pm.

Downton Football Club

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Downton Bowling Club hosted the Downton Football Club at their Annual get together last Sunday. It was a glorious day and at least 20 friends from The Robins joined in a Triples Match. Several footballers and their wives, girlfriends and children took part and the local Downton players were pleased to see that everyone else joined in the game.

Fun and Focus

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On 5 May, Marie (our coach) ran her ‘Fun and Focus’ afternoon at Downton. She and Alan set up the 6 rinks in the morning the rinks measured out so each was exactly the same with markers for each of the 4 challenges she had set.

The aim of this popular event was to have FUN (you could wear what you like and chat as much as you like) but at the same time there was an element of FOCUS as well. Four unusual challenges were set – bowling to off-centre Jacks; blowing the Jack to a target; Show consistancy in bowling and finally a bit of fun bashing the bowls placed around the Jack. Measuring was a novelty as Marie had made 3-foot garden canes into measuring devices with green tape at 3 foot intervals to make it all nice and easy.

This event was so popular before COVID that this year Marie had to run two sessions. 18 members turned up, two played on each rink taking turns with the challenges, one playing, the other measuring and returning bowls to their partner player.

It was a lovely day weather-wise, everyone was relaxed, enjoying the challenges and found it was something a bit different to do on the bowling green. We had some imaginative scores at the end but the joint winners were Charles Burrows and Simon Stacey.

Bowls England Weekend

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Thanks to everybody for entertaining the Bowls England Tourist Team yesterday. It was a super day despite the chilly breeze.  Bowls England paid for their teas and Green Fees and our raffle gave us £172. The President of Bowls England, Terri Keen, gave prizes to the highest and lowest winning Rinks and a really superb Glass item which is displayed in our Club House.

Club Open Day

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The Downton Bowling Green is opening on the weekend of the 16th & 17th April so please come along and support our Club.
Join us on Saturday, 16th April starting at 2pm for the Charity Fun Day and again on Sunday 17th April starting at 2pm for the Captain v President game.
All are welcome, mix and match teams. 
Dress code for Players: Club or White shirts and Greys.
Spectators – the more the merrier. Please come along and join the fun.

Dates for Diaries

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Two dates for your diaries.  The Club will be holding two open days in May.  The first is our own Open Day and the second is part of the Bowls England weekend (which covers Friday 27th – Sunday 29th May).  The details are:
Club Open Day – Sunday, May 1st, 11am – 3pm.
Bowls England weekend – Friday 27th May, 5pm – 8pm (as it’s a club night) and Sunday 29th, 2pm – 5pm

Over the Winter we have managed some social events – including the normal fortnightly coffee mornings on Wednesdays, our Short Mat bowls in the Sherwood room on Thursdays, an excellent fun Race Night and a Quizzy Quiz.
A note for your diaries: We have our Club Open Day on May 1st and we are joining in with the Big Bowls Weekend on  May 28th.  These are both days where you are welcome to come and try bowls at the Club.  Bowls will have a high profile at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year, and this is your opportunity to try it out at a local Club.

February 2020

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See the gallery for latest pictures of the new shed and with its brand new roof installed.

News from the Westbrook Mixed Triples Section:
The Westbrook MTL Committee agreed that this season we would introduce a knockout competition between the league clubs.There will be eight teams competing with each team fielding two mixed Triples to be played home and away at the same time.The combined total of shots on the two rinks will be added together to decide which team(the one with the highest combined total) goes through to the semi final.In the event of a tie a sudden death end will be played at the club shown first on the list.

Our team will be called The Downton Puffins and our first Home and Away match against Salisbury Bowling Club will be held on Monday 15th June 2020 at 6.15pm. When we win this match a semi final match will be played in July at a date to be agreed by the two Captains.The final will take place on a neutral ground probably in September 2020.The winning team will be presented with The Harold Ford Cup in recognition of the late MTL treasurer.

If you wish to enter this competition and are a regular player in the MTL league please get on touch with Steve Allen for consideration by the Downton MTL Captain.

February 2020

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Downton Bowls socialising.
We are pleased to say that our new Social Committee are producing the goods with some very successful events over the last six months and more planned for the future. At the end of the season The Finals Sunday was finished off with a very enjoyable supper. November saw the rewards of the Finals Weekend, with finalists being presented with their trophies after a superb dinner in the Sherwood Room.
Irish Bingo with F&C Supper was a different way of playing the familiar game with playing cards.
All through the closed season the Club has run an excellent Coffee Morning, and the Christmas Coffee Morning was a great way for members and friends to give their Yuletide wishes to one another. These Wednesday morning are increasing in attendees every fortnight.
Skittles and a Quiz combined for an evening of fun, with over fifty Mastermind Skittlers competing in both knowledge and skill.
February entertainment is a Race Night on 28th- Fish and chips a must.

Club Improvements.
Over the last twelve months visitors would have noticed how ambitious the Club is with projects in the Clubhouse and on the ground.
The Clubhouse has had new electric lighting installed. Amazing the difference as the room is amazingly brightened up.
Last winter fabulous new paving was laid, smartening up the approach to the Clubhouse. Integrated into this project was the installation of an irrigation system for the Green. This system really did pay dividends over the hot summer.
Again, our hard working members have been busy this winter with an ongoing project building a new storage facility. This structure is a substantial area that will have long term benefits for the Club